Howland Family: Our Hospital Stay

I went into labor early in the morning on May 28, 2007 at 28 1/2 weeks. They tried everything to get my contractions to stop, but those babies were determined to make their debut on Memorial Day. At 7:14 pm Hayla was born, 2lbs 10.8 oz, at 7:14pm Clayton was born 2lbs 11 oz, and at 7:15pm Dylan was born 2lbs 8oz. All were very healthy just small.

Hayla, Clayton, & Dylan

This was the beginning of another long hospital stay. Because they were 12 weeks early the babies would have to stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unite (NICU) for a while.

Aunt Anna with Hayla

Great Memaw and Papa with Hayla and Dylan.

PawPaw and Hayla

Clayton and Mommy

All three babies had an open PDA and needed medicine to close it. ( a PDA is a duct near the heart that is open while a baby is in the womb because the lungs do not need as much blood at that point. But it is supposed to close once a baby is born, but often doen't in preterm babies.) Hayla's and Dylan's closed with the medicine, but Clayton became very ill due to a ruptured pic line iv and his body began working on other things rather than closing that valve.

Shortly after that Clayton contracted MRSA, the bad hospital staph infection. He was put on a respirator and placed in isolation. I can't tell you how many times we thought we might loose him. He really struggled. On July 3rd he had heart surgery to close that duct. Surgery went great and was apparently exactly what he needed because he began to make great strides to catch up with Hayla and Dylan.